Will Dwight Howard`s back injury kill Magic`s season?

Howard has been advised to cease all basketball-related activities for the next 10 to 15 days as playing could further extend the injury. Howard would miss the remainder of the regular season if he follows that advice, but it has not been determined if he will attempt to play through the injury.

For months, there was speculation about Dwight Howard’s future with the Orlando Magic, which placed the club in a holding pattern.

One minute, Howard wanted to stay in Orlando. One minute, he wanted out. And then, he wasn’t sure.

The situation came to a head before the trade deadline, where Howard, after much cajoling and strong-arming, opted-in for 2013.

There was a clumsy press conference. There was talk of ‘loyalty’. There was a reconciliation so awkward it belonged on the Desperate Housewives series.

It seemed all was solved in the short term. Then the rumblings and rumours started again. The Magic threatened to trade Howard to the Lakers unless he opted-in (yes, you read correctly, Howard did not want to go to L.A.). Reports surfaced that Howard wanted coach Stan Van Gundy fired.

Even retired CNN talk show host Larry King weighed-in, tweeting that a source told him Howard was nearly a Net at the trade deadline.

And now this …

Howard has been diagnosed with a back injury. He can’t play for a couple of weeks. His Orlando Magic sit at sixth in the Eastern Conference and are sliding down the standings.

The playoffs are not guaranteed. If they do secure a top-eight seed, they will likely face powerhouses such as the Chicago Bulls or Miami Heat.

The Magic`s season is ending badly. And the future for player and team doesn`t look good, either.
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